It is Britain’s first Olympic medal in the men’s K1 since Campbell Walsh 12 years ago in Athens.

His win came on one of the best days ever at any Olympics for Team GB, which notched up six medals to double their total at the Games to three gold, three silver and six bronze - on target for the 48 medals it hopes to bring home from Rio.

Also striking gold were Harrogate's Jack Laugher and Chris Mears, from Reading, now living in Leeds, who won the synchronised 3m diving.

Afterwards they partied at a reception at British House, the UK’s official residence at Rio 2016, where Team GB’s performances are being celebrated by athletes, VIPs, stakeholders and sponsors.

Legendary British double gold athlete Dame Kelly Holmes congratulated him and she even tried on his medal.

He said her own 800 and 1,500 meters Olympic gold wins back in 1994 - the year he took up his own sport - had inspired him. He paid special tribute to the National Lottery and all who have bought tickets, with £80m of it a year supporting 1,300 Olympic and Paralympic athletes, including him.

Clarke added : "The National Lottery has enabled this to become a reality. It was a dream. The funding and support they have given me has enabled this to become a reality and I can't thank them enough and everybody back home for playing the Lottery and making this happen."

Andy Duncan, Chief Executive of Camelot, who run the National Lottery, also added his congratulations and added: "Ultimately everyone who buys a Lottery ticket is hoping to win a prize. But the other part is how money goes to good causes - a chunk of it to sport. So as for all the medals won here in Rio...if you've bought a Lottery ticket, you've made that happen."